The Ravens have spent the offseason chipping away at their roster’s soft spots, and by most measures they’ve done a pretty good job of it. Still, there’s one area that feels like it could use another swing, and it points toward a familiar type of target: a pass-catcher who can give this offense something extra.
That’s where the tight end conversation starts to get interesting.
Baltimore has seen enough flashes from rookie wide receiver Ja’Koki Lane, its third-round pick, to keep the door open there. There’s also a case to be made that Devontez Walker could pop in his third season. And, as hard as it may be to believe, Rashod Bateman could benefit from a fresh start, a new coaching staff, and a different offense.
But the tight end room is tougher to sell.
Darren Waller remains the name that keeps making sense. He’s the player I’ve been pushing for all offseason, and two of the three names I’ve been advocating for are already in Baltimore now - defensive lineman Calais Campbell and center Ethan Pocic. Waller is the one still out there, and he looks like a clean fit.
There’s a strong case that he offers more juice than Mark Andrews at this stage, and at a much lower cost. Waller was productive on a bad team last year, playing for just $2M, and multiple general managers told me this offseason that they prefer Waller to Andrews. Those same people had no reason to steer me in that direction.
The numbers help explain the appeal:
Touchdowns: Waller 6, Andrews 5
Yds/Reception: Waller 11.8, Andrews 8.8
YAC/Reception: Waller 3.0, Andrews 2.1
Air Yds/Reception: Waller 10.56, Andrews 7.26
The Ravens, as I see it, don’t currently have a true No. 1 move tight end. Waller may not be that in the purest sense either, but if he’s on a pitch count, he still feels like the best option among what they have.
Taysom Hill is a little more intriguing because of his familiarity with Ravens offensive coordinator Declan Doyle from New Orleans, but the fact that Baltimore hasn’t already gone there makes it feel unlikely. The team is also expected to give rookie fifth-round pick Adam Randall a shot as The Joker in this offense, and Hill doesn’t appear to have much of a market at this point in his career. Even beyond that, the downfield element doesn’t seem like a fit for what Baltimore needs.
If the Ravens do look beyond tight end, Brandon Cooks is another name to keep in mind. He still has the ability to move despite his age, and he has deep ties to Sean Payton.
That said, I’m not eager to see another receiver at the tail end of his career land in Baltimore. Still, I’m keeping an open mind about what this offense might still be missing.
In Other News...
Ravens Rookie Receiver Battle May Already Be Swinging One Way
Baltimores search for a bigger target at receiver brought two rookie names into camp with real intrigue, and Ja'Kobi Lane has wasted little time making his case. The Ravens drafted Lane and Elijah Sarratt with the same need in mind, hoping one of them could help fill the kind of role the offense has been missing, and early on it has been Lane who has looked ready to seize the moment.
Sarratts path has been slowed by a leg injury from mandatory minicamp, which has made the competition harder to read than Baltimore likely hoped. Lane, meanwhile, has been steadily building momentum in camp and looks positioned to keep pushing for a meaningful spot if the reps keep going his way. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Push The Edge During Their Most Physical Camp Day Yet
The Ravens spent their longest training camp practice of the summer leaning hard into the kind of work that can set a tone for the rest of August. Long drive drills, live tackling and even coaches jumping into tackling work turned the day into a true test of stamina and edge, with physicality clearly baked into the plan from the start.
Jesse Minter had his hands full as the intensity rose and several players got into heated exchanges, but nothing spilled over into an actual fight. For a team trying to sharpen its competitive habits, it was the sort of practice that walked right up to the line without crossing it, and that may have been the point. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Just Raised The Stakes On Lamar Jacksons Next Deal
The Ravens spent part of their offseason reinforcing the future around Lamar Jackson, locking up wide receiver Zay Flowers on a four-year, $140 million extension. It is the kind of move that signals how seriously Baltimore views its young offensive core, and it also underscores just how much the team has invested in giving Jackson the pieces needed to keep the offense rolling.
What comes next is the bigger front-office test. Jackson is still in contract negotiations with the Ravens, and those talks have not been finalized, leaving the organization with one marquee deal already done and another far more important one still hanging over the roster. Baltimore would prefer to keep both stars in place, but the shape of Flowers' new contract only adds more intrigue to how the next round of talks with its franchise quarterback will unfold. [Read more 🡒]